Minerals That Plants Need

These minerals are found in plant compost like the stuff you're making in your backyard!

Nitrogen

Nitrogen is required for all phases of growth and
development in plants. It is the primary component of protein and amino acids.

There are 2 different types of nitrogen that plants need at different times: Nitrate (NO3) and Ammonia (NH4). Plants need Nitrate in the growth stage, and Ammonia in the fruiting stage. If you give a tomato nitrate while fruiting, it will go back to growing and stop fruiting. If your soil has a good balance of nutrients in it, it will switch to ammonia on it's own when it needs it. Conversely, if you give lettuce ammonia, it will bolt and focus on seeding.

Deficiency:Lower
leaves are light green or yellowish, or plant is stunted

Required for cell growth and division, helps plants use
Nitrogen.Blossom end rot on peppers and
tomatoes is caused by a calcium deficiency.Calcium is leached out of the soil by rain, so you may need to
supplement calcium if there is a lot of rain.This is because soil uses up it’s calcium to neutralize the acid
rain.If your healthy soil is deep, it
will retain nitrogen and sulfur which combined, can also neutralize the acid
and the soil can retain calcium.So, if
your soil has a healthy amount of all of the nutrients it needs, more of all
of your nutrients will be retained in it.*

Calcium breaks up soil structure and helps to loosen compacted soil. If you add too much calcium your soil could loose all structure.

These are nutrient rich sprays that are absorbed through the
leaf pores, they give plants and extra boost and helps them to absorb
nutrients.

Organic Sources:

Liquid Kelp
Compost Tea

* If your soil becomes too acid and the pH dips to 5 or
less, aluminum ions are dissolved into the water and become toxic to
plants.Aluminum ions cause a stunting
of the root growth and prevent the roots from taking up calcium.It also reduces populations of microorganisms
which break down things in your soil, which releases all of the nutrients above
that you need.So, if you keep your soil
well stocked with the nutrients it needs, it will manage the balance it
needs.

Note – crop rotation helps balance your nutrients as well as
a natural pest and disease control.To
take advantage of the nitrogen in peas and beans, plant a heavy feeder the next
season.To control for pests and
diseases, you shouldn’t replant the same family in the same spot for 3-7 years
depending on the life span of what you are trying to eliminate.Create the longest rotation you can with a
minimum of 3 years, more than 7 is not necessary, and most are controlled with
4 years.

In looking for organic nutrients, look for descriptive words
like: natural organic, slow release and low analysis.Beware a NPK (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium)
total that is 15 or higher.

Upcoming Classes and Events

Mapleton Ready is providing a free winter gardening class by Caleb Warnock, author of Backyard Winter Gardening. It will cover among other things: hot beds, the best winter varieties to grow, and hoop houses.

How to Become a Member

If you would like to become a member of the Utah Seed Exchange you will need to:

1. Commit to learning and actively saving seeds, at least one new variety a year. You must test your seeds for purity by growing a few and matching them to the parent plant before you share them with anyone.

2. Become familiar with the concepts of seed saving. Please catch up with the information and classes that have been taught. They are listed under the 'Pages' section on the right. Go through the pages and read and watch the information.

3. You will need to own and reference 'Seed to Seed' by Suzanne Ashworth (amazon.com) and it is recommended that you own and read 'The Forgotten Skills of Self-Sufficiency used by the Mormon Pioneer' by Caleb Warnock which is a great book on seed saving in Utah.

When you have done these things, email me your request for membership at utahseedexchange@gmail.com and let me know that you have completed the requirements.